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Volunteers are everywhere, more needed

Over Independence Day week, my wife and I took a vacation to the Ft. Myers area in Florida. We had been in our hotel for maybe 45 minutes when a young man in his 30s saw us in the elevator and asked me if I was

Volunteers are everywhere, more needed

Over Independence Day week, my wife and I took a vacation to the Ft. Myers area in Florida. We had been in our hotel for maybe 45 minutes when a young man in his 30s saw us in the elevator and asked me if I was the mayor of Springfield, MO.

It turned out that he was a professional baseball umpire and traveled around most of the summer to various AAU and university tournaments. We met up before dinner a couple of evenings and talked sports and parks. He is very interested in helping to rehab Nichols Park in Springfield.

I played Kiwanis Baseball in Nichols East when I was a young kid and, as I got older, played at West Nichols some before I got out of baseball. And I agree — the park could use some work and attention.

When the City of Springfield held its Zone Kickoff, we held it at the Nichols Park pavilion. Kim Reser, with the Parks Department, welcomed all the participants and gave a brief overview of the department’s plans for Nichols Park.

I mention this instance because there are folks all over this community who are volunteering and working to make Springfield better. In addition to the umpire who wants Central High to have a better park for its baseball and softball teams, there are numerous people actually getting things done.

Recently a lady in the Tom Watkins neighborhood won a Gift of Time award for all the volunteer service she has done for her neighborhood. In addition to chairing the Neighborhood Association, Marti also conducted a weekly food bank for their neighbors who might not have enough to eat.

I know of one couple who has been involved as volunteer leaders with Boy Scouts so long that their sons have gone from Cub Scouts in elementary school to Eagle Scouts in high school. And those of us on Council routinely recognized both the scouts and the leaders who come to Council members as part of the requirements for the Community Involvement badge. And this is only with the Boy Scouts. There are equivalent volunteers in Girl Scouts, in 4-H, as well as a variety of other service organizations for young people.

There are master gardeners who work in horrible heat conditions to help keep the plants and flowers in our parks flourishing. These folks have spent years learning the techniques of growing and maintaining plants and we — our entire community — is reaping the benefits.

We have embarked on a major effort in the northwest quadrant of Springfield, but the issues in Springfield are not limited to Zone 1. Government cannot do it all. We need additional volunteers all over our community to step up. Look around, you might find something to do.